Liver Issues with CF

[NoExcuses]

As most of you know, I had my gallbladder out in October 2005 due to gall stones and huge gallbladder attacks. Not fun.

Some pain has returned yesterday and today. Kind in the same are. Obviously its not my gallbladder cuz it's gone <img src=""> But when I push around the area where I felt gallbladder pain before it's still tender. I'm wonering if my liver is inflammed?

I've had pleuracy before and this isn't it. There's just a difference in the tenderness.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone's had liver issues before and what that was like? If it was accompanied by pain? Anyone had their gallbladder out and still had pain (maybe they left a stone in one of the ducts <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0"> )

Thanks in advance for any insite.

 

[NoExcuses]

Or maybe it's my pancreas???????

 

[EnergyGal]

perhaps it is scar tissue that is developing? That is not a bad thing if it is. Just suggesting. I have no clue. I only had elevated liver numbers when I was on the drug VFEND for the transplant. Once I was taken off of it I am fine. I am sure your fine. I would call your doc. Be well

 

[thelizardqueen]

I at one point had elevated liver enzyme numbers that was causing me to get tired a lot, but I guess it sort of righted itself, because a couple of weeks after my blood test and ultrasound, nothing appeared to be wrong.

 

[blindhearted]

Amy, I had my gallbladder removed in April 2004 due to it not functioning at all (no stones, just dead). I still have gallbladder pains...same spot, same type of pain...from time to time. It goes and comes. But if I didnt know better I would swear my gallbladder was still there. I've been told they are phantom pains. I know that sounds weird, but that's what they are called. My mom had her gallbladder removed years before mine and has the same issue. I don't know what causes them or why they happen. It could be scar tissue but I don't know. Just wanted to let you know you are not the only one <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">. But if you are worried about it being your liver (which I dont think it is) you can still get it checked out by your doctor. But my best guess would be the phantom pains.

 

[NoExcuses]

oh ok, very interesting. This is why I love this site so much! i really apprecaite knowing that this might just be phantom pains. I will call my doc, though, just in case. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me your experience!

 

[littlemisssilly]

When people have their gall bladders removed, from my understanding, the common bile duct dilates and takes over some of the role that gall bladder played when it was in situ (eg transporting enzymes to the small intestines). Usually this causes no problems and it's normal for it to be dilated.

I suppose in theory, given that CF affects the exocrine glands (ie glands with ducts) I'm assuming that your (our) common bile duct will be prone to have more mucous and given that it is just a duct, that would make you more suseptible to spasms etc because of some blockage. From what I remember, it is possible to have a stone in the bile duct, but that causes extreme pain that does not subside.

As for pancreatitis, from what I've seen, that causes horrendous pain and often people cannot move etc because of the pain, it's quite serious, so I think you would be a lot sicker if you had pancreatitis.

Hope that helps...... wow, that was a flashback to Biology wasn't it!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Jennifer1981]

I have cirrhosis with my Cystic Fibrosis. I was diagnosed at age 14. It was explained to me that my liver was damaged from heavy IV therapy from when I was 12 and 13. Those two years, I was in the hospital 4 times each. As a result, I have to take Actigal or Ursodiol every day for the rest of my life. My liver is OK as long as I take the medicine. I do remember though that it was a big issue when I was 14. Too young to have a damaged liver. Now, it's under control and I have hardly been in the hospital so futher damage was prevented. Now my doctors aren't near as worried about it.

 

[CowTown]

Hello,

I didn't thoroughly read through everyone's response here, so hopefully this wasn't already asked. I'm curious about WHY liver issues can be so prominent with CF, and kidney issues are not. Does anyone know why that is? The reason I wonder is b/c I've had kidney failure twice, never any issues with my liver, and yet the liver is what I always hear related to cf. They are both filters for the body and I just don't get why one would cause problems over the other. Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[coltsfan715]

I had my gallbladder removed in 2004 because of gallbladder attacks - before surgery they said I had a non-functioning gallbladder (every ultrasound/scan/test showed my gallbladder but no stones) - after they removed it they found I had hundreds of gallstones - never really got an answer as to how the stones went unnoticed in the 5-6 different tests I had run.

The thing that tipped me and my docs off to their being a problem was elevated liver enzymes on my routine blood work up. My bloodwork ultimately corrected itself (before I had surgery) but the gallbladder was removed anyway. I did fine for about a yr after surgery no attacks, no pain, nothing. Then about a yr or so after I started getting similar sensations - tightness in my chest and back and some tenderness. Same as what Danyell said - if I didn't know better I would have sworn it was my gallbladder acting up. I always wrote it off to possible gas or my imagination or phantom pains. I am just glad to read that I am not the only one that experiences that sensation/feeling.

Lindsey

 

[Ender]

I think it's the structure of the organs themselves that create the problems. CF is kinda like a tube disease...and any organ that kinda has tube structures can be affected. So the lungs, the pancrease (more so the duct), the vas defrons, and i guess the liver. That is how one of my nurses put it.

Although the kidneys aren't directly affected by cf, they are affected by the meds we take...and prolonged use of antibiotics, and other drugs can put a heavy strain on the kidneys....causing them to get angry and shut down.

That's kinda my easy understanding of it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Kiel

 

[CowTown]

Amy, I imagine you'll be contacting Dr. Rao tomorrow, Tues, so let us know what he thinks your pain is all about.

Kelly

 

[NoExcuses]

Ah, you know me like the back of your hand, Kell. And I'm sure you'll be contacting him about your Cipro was well <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Maybe I'll see you in clinic soon 3 feet away, of course.

Ya I'll let ya know what he says. I'll probably be in for an ultrasound is what I'm guessing.

And in terms of your kidneys failing - it's the antibiotics you've been on. Some antibiotics, regardless of a person's diagnosis (CF or not) can cause kidney's to just give out.

Hopefully it's not my liver or my pancrease. I'm not in the mood to lose another organ <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

Maybe you're full of poo?! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Just recalling an embarrassing appointment early on with our son. L

 

[JazzysMom]

I have had pains in that area on/off for years. It never sticks around long enough for me to make the effort of getting any testing done tho I always get the scripts to do so. When speaking with my doctor about it she always told me that it could be a few things because of the location. So although in my head it was Gallbladder it could be pancrease, intestinal etc etc. As you & Kelly must either go to the same doctor or she knows your doctor, I am ASSuming that you contacted them as she asked? HA....hope you feel better!

 

[catboogie]

the same thing happened to me as liz when i was a teenager! i had elevated liver enzymes, was more tired than usual (they thought i might have mono but i didn't). i did blood tests every few weeks and eventually the levels went down on their own.

it's funny...i remember slamming a bunch of water before my blood tests because i was paranoid they'd check for marajuana. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[JazzysMom]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>catboogie</b></i>



it's funny...i remember slamming a bunch of water before my blood tests because i was paranoid they'd check for marajuana. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"></end quote></div>



INTERESTING...... LOL!

 

[CowTown]

Hi Amy,

Just wondering if the doc had any thoughts about your pain the other day? Are you still having it? Hope you're feeling better. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">